Intelligent rig

The two-part twin spreader high modulus Southern Spars rig is deck stepped and set with EC3 composite rigging. The rig uses Tp52-style deflectors which are controlled by a Pct-developed magic wheel, one of four such systems on board. They are also used to control the traveller, drop line system and vang. There are masthead and jib halyard locks. Sailmaker choice is open and at the moment the fleet is split between North and Quantum.

The canting keel adds a set of new challenges to moding and trimming the boat downwind. Michele Ivaldi, tactician on the Dynamiq Synergy Sailing Team who joined the class from the TP52S, explains what he sees as some of the attractions of the Melges 40: “It is super fun because it is a new generation one-design, there are so many things to learn.

“The keel position upwind is usually fully canted to 45°. Downwind it is very challenging to understand so if you want to you can have the crew maybe not full hiking but with the keel up, or you can do the opposite – there so many different modes.

“For example, we saw that when we are sailing in 11-13 knots we use 20° keel and the boat is sailing 143°-145° TWA. When it is lighter you are sailing with the keel in the middle and more like normal. It is very unique.”

Even the most experienced teams like Stig and Inga have still only sailed between 30 and 40 days on the water so far and so there is still a lot to learn.

The finer points of the tactical choices The Melges 40 is super light at just 3,200kg – that’s some 800kg lighter than a Fast 40+